Calypogeia neogaea

Calypogeia neogaea
Phylum: Marchantiophyta
Family: Calypogeiaceae
Genus: Calypogeia
Common NameNone
FrequencyInfrequent
© Dan Tucker
iNaturalist
© Dan Tucker
iNaturalist
© Randal Mindell
iNaturalist

Distinguishing Features

An infrequent species of wet, peaty banks, the light green and relatively large Calypogeia fissa forms long shoots (> 2cm) that loosely weave through other bryophytes. The leaves are somewhat distant and have a rounded-triangular shape and apices that are often notched. The underleaves are diagnostic as they are deeply divided to within a few cells of the base.

Similar species

The leaves of C. fissa might be mistaken for Bazzania on account of the notches at their tip, underleaves in the former are always two-lobed and deeply divided, whilst species of Bazzania have underleaves that are typically 3-4 lobes and shallowly divided. No other species in the genus Calypogeia has such a deeply divided underleaf and as such C. fissa is unmistakeable upon inspection with a hand lens.

Habitat

Moist to mesic humus, decayed wood, peatlands, swamps, bogs, and streambanks in the lowland and montane zones; locally frequent in coastal BC, rare in southeastern BC.

Associated species

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Distribution Map

Relevant Literature